Removable dental bridgework.



PATENTED MAY 7 1907 E. 0. BENNETT. REMOVABLE DENTAL BRIDGEWORK.

APPLIOATION' FILED MAY 18. 1906.

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REMOVABLE DENTAL BRIDGEWORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May '7, 1907.

Application filed May 18, 1906. Serial Nor 317.495.

To (Z7, 1071/0711 it 'nuty concern.-

Be it known that I, ERNEST C. BENNETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Removable Dental Bridgework, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to removable dental bridgework.

One form of my invention is shown and described in my former application No. 301,176, filed February th, 1906, Patent No. 832,528, issued October 2nd, 1906.

The removable bridge construction of this application is particularly designed for use where a rear tooth or root is lacking. It will be apparent, however, that the bridge may be employed between two teeth, if desired.

The form illustrated herein for certain cases is an improvement over the construction of my former application, in that it does away I with the plunger therein described.

The present invention contemplates the use of a spring frame or loop connected to one tooth or crown and extending along the line of the gum, together with a bridge adapted to be snapped into place between the stationary tooth or crown and the opposite end of the spring frame, or removed therefrom when desired.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a set of teeth with two bridges and connections embodying all the details of this present invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating my invention as applied to a solid rubber saddle bridge, Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of same, Fig. 4 is a plan view of the stationary tooth or crown and its attached spring frame, Fig. 5 shows the bridge with a metal saddle, Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of same, Fig. 7 is a plan view of the stationary member and spring frame used therewith. Fig. 8 is a side view of the stationary abut- 'ment and extension member, slightly different from the forms of Figs. 2 and 5. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a metal saddle and plunger adapted to cooperate with the parts shown in Fig. 8. The latter .two figures are copied from my former application and illustrate the construction employing a longitudinally moving plunger. Fig. 10 is a side view showing the constructions of Figs. 8 and 9 assembled in the proper form shown. in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

1 1 indicate two bridge members removably carried by the stationary teeth or crowns 2 2 and connected either along the outer or inner surface of the teeth or both by means of wires or bands, such as 3 and 4 for the purpose of assisting in holding them in position and preventing side play.

The stationary abutment 2 has a projection 5, and carries the yielding or spring .frame 6, preferably formed of wire of any suitable cross section, or material having a backwardly turned loop or hooked portion 7. The removable bridge member has at one end a shoulder S, which forms in effect a recess adjacent to it. At the other end, the removable bridge has another projection or shoulder 9, which forms in ellcct a recess adjacent to it. The saddle is channeled on its under surface, in case the spring frame is to be located underneath it, so as to lit over the side bars of said frame as seen in Fig. 3. "he bridge may be readily slipped into place by engaging one end of the same against the hook 7, and. pressing it into place until the shoulder 8 passes the projection 5 on the abutment 2, whereupon the latter will stand in the recess adjacent to said shoulder S, and thus retain the bridge in place. To facilitate this, the shoulders or projections may be properly rounded.

The stationary abutment 2 of Figs. and 7 has a shoulder 5 which is more. abrupt on its under surface and adapted to stand over the projecting end S of the metal saddle 1. The hook end 7' stands over the opposite end 9' of the saddle. in this construction the side bars (5 of the spring frame are preferably spaced apart so as to lie along the longitudinal edges of the saddle when the bridge is in place, as in Fig. (i. "he metal saddle might, however, be recessed the same as the rubber saddle and be used in connection with a narrow frame, as shown in Fig. 3. The construction employing an abrupt under faced shoulder 5 is more secure when in place in the mouth, but has the disadvantage of greater difficulty in removal.

in the construction shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 1.0, the metal saddle 1 carries a spring pressed plunger 10, which operates in a tube 11. This plunger is adapted to lit beneath the shoulder 5, while the opposite end of the saddle 9 catches under the tip or hook 7. This plunger may be used with a stiff or rigid frame 6".

The construction is simple, easy to erect in the mouth, and it is easy to remove and replace the bridge. There is this added advantagethat While the bridge is secured at both ends, there is no tendency to regulate or move the natural teeth. The use of wires or bands such as 3 and 4, shown in Fig. 1, prevents side play of the bridges and avoids strains on the stationary teeth or crowns which carry the bridges. This is particularly advantageous where the gums are flat and afford little lateral support for the saddles. It is preferable to have the hookcarrying frames such as 6 and 6 spaced apart from the gum slightly so as to avoid any possible irritation. The saddle, of course, is intended to rest on the gums as usual and take up the principal strains when in use.

What I claim is:

1. A denture comprising two stationary abutments, a bridge removably carried by each: abutment and extending to the rear thereof, and reinforcing wires extending around the teeth and connecting said bridges.

2. A denture comprising a stationary abutment having a laterally projecting shoulder, a spring frame carried by said abut ment and extending longitudinally of the gum, and a removable bridge member having shoulders at its opposite ends adapted to be engaged by said abutment and said frame.

3. A denture comprising a stationary tooth or crown abutment having a laterally projecting shoulder, an extending member secured to said abutment lying along the gum and having a hook end, and a removable brid e member adapted to be secured. between said hook and said shoulder.

4. A denture comprising a stationary tooth or crown abutment, a yielding frame secured thereto and extending along the gum and having a hook end, and a removable bridge adapted to be secured between said hook end and said abutment.

5. A denture comprising a stationary l I l abutment, a frame member secured thereto and extending along the gum and having an upturned hook projection, and a removable bridge member, one of said members having a longitudinally yielding portion independent of the bridge teeth, said. bridge being re movably secured between said. projection and said abutment.

6. A denture comprising a stationary crown or abutment, a double arm frame se cured to said abutment and lying along the gum and a removable tooth-carrying bridge carried by said abutment and frame.

7. A denture comprising two stationary abutments, a bridge removably carried by each of said abutments, and a band or wire connecting said bridges and extending along the sides of the intervening teeth for staying said bridges.

8. A denture comprising a stationary abutment, a member carried by said abutment and extending along the line of the gum, a removable bridge member adapted to be engaged by said abutment and said longitudinally extending member.

9. A denture comprising a stationary abutment, a frame carried by said abutment and extending longitudinally along the line of the gum and to the side of the ridge thereof, and a removable bridge member adapted to be engaged by said frame and said abutment.

10. A denture comprising a stationary abutment, a frame carried by said abutment, extending longitudinally alongthe line of the gum and to the side of the ridge thereof, a hook on said frame, a removable bridge adapted to be engaged between said abutment and said hook.

R. O. MIToHELL, RoBT. S. ALLYN. 

